Pure is best

[Gabes-Apg]

further to our discussions the other day about children not playing in the dirt enough is the cause of illnesses........
finally some hope that they are realising the real issue!




http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/nation ... 5893478638


AUSTRALIAN food authorities may ban artificial food colours from breakfast cereals and confectionery items following new scientific evidence that shows it may pose a cancer risk, as well as causing hyperactivity and allergic reactions in children.

The new research conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) in the US recommended the common colours be banned.

"These synthetic chemicals do absolutely nothing to improve the nutritional quality or safety of foods, but trigger behaviour problems in children and, possibly, cancer in anybody," said CSPI executive director Michael F. Jacobson, co-author of the report, Food Dyes: A Rainbow of Risks.

Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ), along with its American counterpart the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), said they have been closely looking at the new findings in the past week.

"We are currently assessing the data and if there is good scientific evidence, we can and will make changes," Lydia Buchtman from FSANZ said.


Each year, manufacturers worldwide pour close to seven million kilograms of artificial colours into common foods such as biscuits, ice creams, cordials and confectionery but many consumers complain of adverse reactions.

Jenny Heasman suspected something was wrong with her six-year-old son Zach, whose teary and aggressive outbursts were out of the ordinary. After putting him on an elimination diet and then reintroducing the artificial colours in water, she identified tartrazine (E102) as the culprit.

"He reacted immediately," the Gordon mum said.

Sue Dengate from the Food Intolerance Network said: "I'm very pleased FSANZ is assessing the research, but I think they have failed in their consumer-protection duty because the UK and Europe are leading the charge on this."

FSANZ has no plans to follow Europe's lead by requiring manufacturers to apply warning labels.

From Tuesday, European food manufacturers will be required to carry a warning if their products contain the artificial colours that are now known as the "Southampton Six" following a UK university's study on the issue.

[Gloria]

I thought I recognized the name Center for Science in the Public Interest. It just showed up in a posting a couple of days ago in Tex's thread "Maybe Some Do-Gooders Aren't As Smart As They Think" http://www.perskyfarms.com/phpBB2/viewt ... ght=#78565

If there was to be a contest for an award in this category – my nomination would have to be Michael Jacobson, the founder and frequent spokesperson for the Center for Science in the Public Interest. (CSPI)

While it could be argued that CSPI has indeed been a force in the generalized modifying of some ingredients/products in the vast food/beverage marketplace today, they also have had the habit of making many claims - in a most pontifical manner - that have not proven to be true.

Located in Washington D.C., CSPI is purely a political action/advocacy group, not a group of scientists -- which their name would seem to imply.

We should probably be a little skeptical of their latest finding.

Gloria

[mbeezie]

Overall I think CSPI is helpful in bringing informtion to light for the public and they have a good newletter called Nutrition Action Health letter, which I have subscribed to for many years. Over the years they have fought to keep things like olestra out of our food supply, as well as many other nasty additives. A few years ago I read their article on food colorings and ADHD and they reviewed the literature to date and simply made a recommendation that more research be done and cited flaws with previous studies - nothing wrong with that approach IMHO. They always cite credible research and as far as I can tell it's all not just opinion. Yes, their statements are strong on some issues (like how bad movie popcorn is) but I for one appreciate this approach - somebody needs to take a stand on the crap in our food supply. I think this is a GOOD thing and I appreciate their work. Think for a minute about all of the scientists who promote soy, whole grains etc and can back it with credible research studies. At some point we all have to make our decision on who to beleive.

Mary Beth